Aerial machine.



R W. STEWART.

AERIAL MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1910.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

, construction whereby forward transverse frame 5.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. STEWART, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STEWARTAERIAL VEHICLE COMPANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OFCALIFORNIA.

AERIAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Application filed February 15, 1910. Serial No. 543,992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ronnn'r IN. S'rnwAn'r, citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Aerial Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to aerial machines, and particularly toaeroplanes.

My invention has for its purpose the provision of an aerial machineinvolving a novel and advantageous arrangement of supporting planes, andto provide an aeroplane introducing special features of design andefliciency and stability are increased, and control is rendered easierand more reliable.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, havingreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a planview of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, on aslightly larger scale. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the forward,balancing planes.

I have illustrated my invention as enibodying a bi-blane structure orframe A, though manifestly the principle is equally adaptable to ainonoplane. The frame A may be made of any desired material having therequisite strength and proportions, and

comprises longitudinal main bars 2 suitably braced apart the desireddistance, and having'extcnded between its forward horizontal ends,primary, concavo-convex support in and lifting head plane sections 3preferab y arranged at a slight upward, forward inclination andsuperposed.

An important feature of my invention resides in forming, in addition tothe forward plane section or sections 3, a plurality of lateral followerplane sections. the foremost of which 4 --4 are rear of and slightlyoverlalp the central head plane or planes 3, and are fastened upon theouter portions of a Outermost follower plane sections 6-6, formingextreme wings, are disposed beyond, and to the rear of, the planes 4-4.;thus the symmetrical step arrangement of sections 4=t, (3-43, and 3forms a substantially integral monoplane having its surface so designedas to allow each subdivision 3-4-6 to present a series of successive,longitudinally 0dand arranged l set planes having a transverse widthmuch greater than the depth centrally of the plane.

his construction of my plane affords a successive series of almostindividual units,

transverse lines of balance great stability and yet not exceeding thedepth efficiency, which would inevitablv result if a single plane ofdepth as great as my construction aii'ords were used.

The rear portion of the body frame A is extended transversely, as at 77and is rt Med with outwardly projecting, fixed, mlancing single planes8-8 having a space between their inner edges equal to the width of theframe A, and within this space are vertically pivoted to cross-bars 9, aset of parallel steering rudders 10 connected by suitable means. as acable 10 which is led forward over suitable guide pulleys 11, its endsbeing secured to a turnable drum 12 conveniently mounted near theaviators saddle 13 which is preferably disposed above the lower mainplane, as in a nionoplane.

Pivoted to the rear cross-bars 1.4 of frame A are a pair of linkedhorizontal rudders" 15-15 having a positive connection by means oflinkslG-l? to a lever 18 fulcrumed at 19, and which is actuated by meansof a push rod .20 having a handle 21 at the control of the operator. Ifthehandle 91 be pushed it will raise the horizontal rudders 15 inunison; if it be pulled, it will lower them, thus giving the operatorperfect control of the machine.

The poise or transverse equilibrium of the major plane sections 3- 1-45is sustained and governed by means of suitably shaped and sized wings orvanes 22-23, Figs. 2 and 3, which are connected in series by a cable 24,the terminals of which are secured to pedal levers 25--2G. While theseoppositely movable vanes may be mounted at any desirable location, it isfound advantageous to mount them horizontally between the superposedoutermost followi-r units 6T6, as they then act upon a stratum of leastdisturbed air, and also, by reason of thcii distance from the axis ofthe frame A, have greater leverage. The pedals 25-426 aiepivotedconvenient site directions. When one pedal, as 9.), is pressed, it pullson its end of cable 24 and lowers or dips its companion vane 22, andsimultaneously lifts or upwardly tilts the to the operator and rock inoppoother vane 23; and when pedal 26 is pressed, it dips va'ie 23 andlifts vane 22 synchronously. By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seenthat this peculiar design and arrange ment of the sub-planes provides arelatively deep area effective constantly in a stratum or volume ofcomparatively undisturbed air, no plane is directly behind another,- noris any one plane of itself sufiiciently long to have an ineffectivearea. An important advantage 'and result of this structure is theformation of a central opening 27between ehind the second the tip planes6-6 and primary or head followers 44 and the plane 3. a I Inthe spacebehind the planes 3% I mount a plurality of propellers 28 in bearings29, and derive power from a suitable motor 30 to drive them. In thislocation the propellers constantly operate in free, unrestrained air,and do not churn the air or create undesirable. retarding currentstherein adjacent to the planes. j

My invention enables me to construct the machine with all its movablemembers well removed from the first plane which thus is not subjected toabnormal local disturbing air currents. hevertical, parallel steeringrudders 10 are unhampered by surrounding planes, as also are thehorizontal elevating or tilting planes l5.

The horizontal planes 22,23 operating in unison oppositely on oppositesides of the 'rame and between the superposed tip-followers 6 -6control, equilibrium. of the machine, and by connect ing these planes topedals directly acted upon by the aviator, he is enabled to feel at oncethe least inclination of the plane -to tilt, and can instantly actuatethe pedals to right the machine.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim' and desire to secureby'Let-ters Patent is 4 1. In an aerial machine, the combination of aplane comprising a series of following, laterally offset, integralsections arranged in echelon formation, and a propeller located i 1between the rear following sections of the plane.

2. In an aerial machine, a monoplane having a central leading section,and laterally offset following sections, integrally connected thereto;the sections being arranged in echelon formation with the followingsecmost sensitively, the j tions symmetrically behind and to each sideof the central ing planes mounted sections. a

8. In an aerial machine, a plane having a central leading section,successive laterally. offset sections connected thereto, and adjust ablebalancing planes mounted adjacent to the extreme lateral sections of theplane.

4:. In an aerial machine, a plane with a 3' central leading section, aplurality of laterally offset connected sections, a frame supporting theplane sections, and a propelling mechanism including a propeller locatedbetween the rear following. sections of the plane, and a motor.

5. An aerial machine comprising a plane having a series of sectionsarranged in I echelon symmetrically behind and to each lside of acentral leading section, a frame i carrying the plane, rear or tailplanes secured to and projecting outwardly from the frame, and steeringruddersmounted in the space between the tail planes.

6. An aerial machine comprising a plane i having a series of sectionsarranged in echelon symmetrically behind and to each a centralleading'section, a frame carrying the plane, rear or tail planes securedto and projecting outwardly from the frame steering rudders mounted inthe space between thetail planes, and horizontal parallel ruddersmounted at the extreme end of the frame.

7. An aerial machine comprising section- -lea-ding section, andbalancadjacent to the lateral central leading unit, a longitudinalframe,-

adjustable balancing. planes mounted between the extreme transversesections of the planes, a pair of fixed monoplanes projectingoppositelyfrom the rear end of (the frame, adjustable, parallel, vertical steeringrudders operable in the central space at the rear of the frame to ed,parallel horizontal planes pivoted to the extreme end of the frame, andmeans where by said planes may be operated in unison.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presenc f twosubscribing i witnesses.

ROBERT W. STEWART,

. 'Witnesses I CHARLES EDELMAN, J. PUGKERMANN.

which they are mount

